DIY dive gear successes and failures

[mddolson]

Here are the pics of my enclosed reel.


Mike D

 

[-=>Larry<=-]

built a Secci Disk [Spelling??, the vis check thing] from an old frizbee - - and my favorite - is adapting a Travel Magna Doodle for use as my slate - - It's SO MUCH better than the commercial stuff!

 

[pcscuba]

I was just wandering what everyone was using for power wire between the canister and the head?

 

[canuckdiver]

I'm using good quality outdoor extention cord (the bright orange stuff)

others have mentioned using silicone-jacketed cable

 

[pcscuba]

That sounds good but what kind of connectors would you use to make a waterproof connection at each end?

 

[canuckdiver]

well, most good hardware suppliers can get "liquid proof bulkhead connectors" or, you can do as I have done, and just use a compression fitting with o-rings instead of the compression collar.

go over to http://www.mcmaster.com/

and browse through the online catalog, it will give you a good idea of what you are looking for, and another good idea would be to check out airspeed press for his "dive light companion" book

 

[oversea]

I am presently making one using watertight marine cable connections, waterpoof wire and a pvc housing. The lamp is a 50w halogen bulb. All available from Home Depot. The power is a sealed cannister w/ 4 r/c car packs, 2 ea wired in series and then palleled to increas voltage and amps simultaneously. So far so good.

 

[Aquamaniac]

Dectek once bubbled...
I dont know if the different manufactures reflectors are slightly different sizes. The GE bulb that has its own glass cover sits a little high and if not just perfect wobbles right on the edge of the light head.
This is a drawing of Scott Blair's to help illustrate what I was trying to say.

Hey Thats pretty cool!!!!
Thats a drawing I did for scott some time ago.
Never thought Id see my cadd dwgs on SB!
I have images of the machining work here somewhere as well.
Ill see if I can find them.

 

[mddolson]

pcscuba bubbled: I was just wandering what everyone was using for power wire between the canister and the head?"

I used PVC jacketed , 16 gauge, 2 conductor, shielded cable.

PVC becasue it's harder than rubber. (rubber will leak, it's too soft, I know this from experience)

16 gauge, 26 standed wires, are flexible and reisit breakage for flexing. 16 gauge will handle 5-8 amps current without over heating.

Shielding - the current flow throught the cable can create a magnetic field that screws up your compass, if too close. (this also from experince).

I have 2x 6 volt 10Ahr batteries in series. They run a 50 watt halogen lamp for 2 hrs.

MikeD

 

[pcscuba]

Dectek once bubbled...
Did you find a supplier for the liquid tight fittings with strain releif besides Sealcon? [/B]

Heyco make several different liquid tight fittings. You can get them from Tower Fasteners or Motion Industries.